MERS virus becoming pandemic

[CHecker]

 http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/27/us-saudi-mers-idUSBREA3Q02F20140427

 

Saudi Arabia has 26 more cases of MERS virus, 10 dead

RIYADH Sun Apr 27, 2014 3:16pm EDT

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(Reuters) - Saudi Arabia confirmed 26 more cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which has killed nearly a third of sufferers, and said 10 more people have died from the disease.

The confirmations follow Egypt's announcement on Saturday that it had confirmed its first case of MERS in a man who had recently returned to the country from Riyadh, where he was working.

Saudi Arabia, where MERS was discovered around two years ago and which remains the country most affected, has now had 339 confirmed cases of MERS, of which 102 have been fatal.

The 143 cases announced since the start of April represent a 73 percent jump in total infections in Saudi Arabia this month.

The new cases were announced in two statements published on the Health Ministry website on Saturday and Sunday.

The 10 confirmed on Saturday included seven in Jeddah, the focal point for the recent outbreak, two in the capital Riyadh and another in Mecca. Two MERS patients died.

The 16 further cases confirmed on Sunday included two in Riyadh, eight in Jeddah and another six in the northern city of Tabuk. Eight MERS sufferers died on Sunday.

The acting health minister, Adel Fakieh, said on Saturday he had designated three hospitals in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam on the Gulf coast as specialist centres for MERS treatment.

The three hospitals can accommodate 146 patients in intensive care, he said in comments carried by local press on Sunday.

Many Saudis have voiced concerns on social media about government handling of the outbreak, and last week King Abdullah sacked the health minister.

In Jeddah, some people are wearing facemasks and avoiding public gatherings, while pharmacies say sales of hand sanitisers and other hygiene products are soaring.

(Reporting by Angus McDowall; Editing by Kim Coghill and Sonya Hepinstall)

[Miss Bea]

I read about this somewhere else. It said seven per cent of the care providers die. Antibiotics, of no use. In the same article it pointed out the use of natural remedies. It said use mainstream, natural, alternative, what ever can work. Oil of oregano was mentioned as one of the alternatives. I worked for a medical clinic for over 20 years, and I depend on whatever natural remedies I came across. When I couldn't get over pneumonia, I was talking to my FNP. She's a cool lady. Anyway, I told her about the oil of oregano. She had been sick for some time. She said, FDA approved or not she was going to get some. DGL licorice, thank you Lance. I think I read it in something you wrote. I may be able to get off Prilosec because of that, and my husband is using it too.

And know what, I was thinking about it as I was out assaulting weeds. Hard work, and I feel better then I have for some time. Now I will probably croak tomorrow of a stinking stroke. Not fun getting old in this system!